Kevin Haskin: K-State's Sams open to position change

Thursday

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Moving forward, the monster Kansas State created by playing a two-headed quarterback could develop a couple of intriguing traits.

Either Jake Waters and Daniel Sams grow from the experience gained this football season and provide the Wildcats a deceptive, broad-based attack …

Or, the snaps they share alienate the two players and possibly fracture the 2014 squad if K-State cannot build on a 7-5 finish this season, which delivered an invitation to the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl and a date Saturday against Michigan.

One of the quarterbacks is receptive to a position switch. It happens to be Sams, who possesses enough athleticism to not only contribute, but potentially flourish at another spot.

"When that time comes,’’ said Sams, "I’m sure I’ll have a conversation with coach (Bill) Snyder. It doesn’t matter where I play, just as long as I get to play.’’

The proposal would be to move to wide receiver, where the Wildcats will lose two seniors, Tramaine Thompson and Torell Miller. No such request has been submitted yet. Sams, like his teammates, is concerned only with beating the Wolverines and ending K-State’s five-game bowl losing streak.

Still, with Waters taking all but just a handful of snaps in the last two games of the regular season, a loss to Oklahoma and a victory at Kansas, it appeared as if the year-long debate regarding the more effective quarterback had been decided. Waters, finally, won out.

Yet the man with absolute authority, Snyder, does not seem ready to explore any major alteration in how Sams is deployed.

"I don’t see any change,’’ said the K-State coach. "Maybe some additional responsibilities, but not a wholesale position change.’’

For Sams to move, the K-State staff must be comfortable with the depth it assembles at quarterback. Currently, Sams is the only reliable backup. Not just that, he happens to be the most dynamic backup in the Big 12, a QB capable of completely disrobing defenders with his dazzling feet.

When Sams enters, opponents shudder. A strong current suddenly gets the crowd buzzing. Sams is that electric.

Still, he never proved trustworthy enough, at least not for the K-State coaches. Late interceptions proved costly in losses to Oklahoma State and Baylor.

Sams’ holster got snapped — to the point that in the last two games he did not attempt a pass while gaining zero yards on five rushes. Sams finished with 784 yards rushing and 452 passing, despite completing 73.1 percent of his throws.

When asked to reveal his favorite moments, the plays Sams traced tell a story.

His favorite rush was a burst to the sideline against TCU in which Sams somehow spun airborne and converted a first down by stretching the football into the right spot. His favorite pass, meanwhile, was one he admittedly underthrew, but was somehow snagged by Tramaine Thompson for a touchdown against Iowa State.

Thompson happened to be one of Sams’ biggest supporters. After K-State lost at Texas, the senior receiver openly questioned the few snaps Sams was given. Thompson was not so outspoken Thursday. Instead, he senses the Cats could prosper next year by using Sams alongside Waters again in a rotation that is more experienced and sophisticated.

"I think they’re going to work (Sams) at quarterback and keep perfecting this two-quarterback system,’’ Thompson said. "It can be very dangerous for other teams if we can get it down to a science.’’

Will Sams approve? Good question. As much as he truly wanted Waters to succeed, it was difficult sometimes for the sophomore backup to conceal his frustration.

"I was in tears after the KU game,’’ Sams conceded. "Coach Snyder just came up to me and he apologized and he said he’ll get it worked out. I believe that. Coach Snyder has been on my side since I’ve been here, through all the mistakes and all the trouble off the field my freshman year. He’s always been by my side and he never gave up. I understand him and when he says he’s going to make it work, I believe him.’’

Maybe it does not work unless Waters is appointed the starter and Sams is moved to wideout to get him on the field and best capitalize on his playmaking potential. However, that takes Sams out of the backfield, where he’s a 1,000-yard career rusher averaging 5.7 yards whenever he keeps the football.

"His emotions aren’t centered around what Jake does or doesn’t do,’’ Snyder said. "His emotions are centered on, ‘I just want to be out there.’ And that’s what you want out of the guys. You want them to want to be out there. He and I have had that discussion. And, we’ve worked him at other spots as well, and will probably keep doing so.’’

The question is whether Sams will stick somewhere other than QB. Some contend that move is in K-State’s best interests. That a team with two quarterbacks is actually a team with no quarterback.

Then Sams comes in, does something incredible and you sense how tough it is for Snyder to give up on something that could be so monstrous.

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